Official ATF documents as well as sources in Arizona and Washington D.C. confirm that in at least two instances in 2010, an agent of the United States government purchased Kalashnikov-pattern semi-automatic pistols from licensed federal firearms dealers with taxpayer money and delivered those weapons directly into the hands of cartel smugglers.

In a letter dated June 1, 2010, then Phoenix ATF Group VII supervisor David Voth instructed a Federal Firearms Licensee in Arizona as follows:

Dear Sir,

Per Section 925(a)(1) of the Gun Control Act (GCA) exempts law enforcement agencies from the transportation, shipment, receipt, or importation controls of the GCA when firearms are to be used for the official business of the agency.

Please accept this letter in lieu of completing an ATF Form 4473 for the purchase of four (4) CAI, Model Draco, 7.62x39 mm pistols, by Special Agent John Dodson. These aforementioned pistols will be used by Special Agent Dodson in furtherance of the performance of his official duties. In addition, Special Agent Dodson has not been convicted of a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence. If you have any questions, you may contact me at telephone number 602-605-6501.

Sincerely,

(Signature)David VothATF Group SupervisorPhoenix Group VII

In the lower left-hand margin of the one-page letter is the hand-written notation:

"Picked gunsup 6/10/10Paid Cash"

"Paid Cash" is underlined.

The existence of this letter provided to these reporters by a previously reliable source familiar with the Fast and Furious investigation, coupled with interviews of other sources across the country which put it into context, provides startling proof that the Federal government did not merely "lose track" of weapons purchased by "straw buyers" under surveillance by the ATF and destined for the Mexican drug cartels. In an undercover operation ordered by Fast and Furious supervisor David Voth, the U.S. government purchased firearms with taxpayer money from licensed firearms dealers, instructed them to conduct the sales "off the books," and used an ATF agent, John Dodson, to deliver them directly to people that Dodson believed were conducting them across the border.

According one source close to the Issa committee and knowledgeable of its workings, this revelation "puts a stake in the heart of the 'botched sting operation' lie." He continued, "There never was any 'sting,' there was only a deliberate effort to provide weapons to the DTO's (Drug Trafficking Organizations)." He added, "this was one hundred percent us -- our money, our guy, our (gun)walking."

This source also provided context and explanation of how the letter came to exist in the first place.

(It should be noted that although we would never reveal our sources for any story, it is important in this case for the readers to understand where we did NOT get it. Neither John Dodson nor his lawyer provided us this letter. Nor did they pass it through to us via a third party, as the DOJ has been known to do lately.)

"Dodson was given this undercover assignment by Voth," said the source, "to purchase weapons directly and provide them to the smugglers. He was operating under cover, pretending to be a 'straw buyer.'" He continued, "I think Dodson demanded the letter from Voth to cover both himself and the FFL (Federal Firearm Licensee). He didn't want to be hung out to dry" by Voth.

A source also said that the undercover assignment was an effort by Voth to "dirty him (Dodson) up," pointing out that by the time of the undercover assignment that Dodson's vocal opposition to "letting guns walk" was well known to his superiors in the Phoenix ATF office.

Sources also describe a second letter from Voth to another FFL authorizing Dodson to purchase two more Draco pistols. One source stated flatly: "Issa and Grassley have copies of both letters, and have had for a long time."

Subsequent to this undercover weapons buying and transfer to cartel smugglers by Dodson, say the sources, "Dodson just about came apart all over them (his supervisors)." In a "screaming match" that was heard throughout the Phoenix office by many employees, Dodson yelled at Voth and Assistant Special Agent in Charge George Gillett, "Why not just go direct and empty out the (ATF) arms room?" (to the cartels), or words to that effect.

After this confrontation, say the sources, ATF managers transferred Dodson to a post as "liaison to the intel guys at FBI" in the Phoenix office. For clarification, it is worth noting that the Brian Terry murder investigation was at this time being carried out by the criminal investigations side of the FBI out of the Tuscon office, not Phoenix.

Sources describe continuing harassment of Dodson as his access to the Phoenix office building was restricted. "They removed him from the (Fast and Furious) case as politically unreliable," said another source, adding, "And of course after the Terry murder all the shots were being called by D.C."

After the death of Brian Terry, the "rumor" post on the ATF agent's website, CleanUpATF.org and the initial coverage by these reporters in the early weeks of January, 2011, "things got ugly" for Dodson. Blamed by his immediate supervisors as well as many of his fellow agents in the Phoenix office for "treason" as one source described it, Dodson's existence at the Phoenix office was described as "precarious" by one D.C. source. The threats to his life were perceived to be so great that "solitary range days" were arranged by a sympathetic supervisor so Dodson could practice marksmanship in safety. "He (the supervisor) didn't want him (Dodson) to eat one in the back" in a range "accident," said the source.

Dodson has not given any more interviews of late. "Not since the hearings as far as I know," said one source, and it is not because he hasn't been asked.

"They're (the Justice Department) coming at him hard, looking for anything they can use against him," said another. "Can you blame him for keeping his head down?"

Although our sources firmly agree that Senator Grassley and Congressman Issa have both of the Voth/Dodson letters, we are forwarding copies of the June 1, 2010 letter to staffers of both men, asking for comment on this story and an explanation as to why they have not previously released the letters.

Given the fact that it is a weekend, these reporters do not expect any reaction until later on Monday morning.

At first I was upset at Dodson. Then when I read about him coming apart at the supv. I was mollified.

Issa and Grassley have had these letters all the time and not a peep out of either of them? I can only see two ways that would have happened. Either the two congressmen are part of the cover up (limited hangout sorta thing?) or one - OR MORE - staffers in BOTH offices are working with/for DOJ. I'm leaning towards the latter but the former is still viable since we all know what paragons of integrity, virtue and honor virtually all politicians are.

Artie Johnson had a great line that would seem to apply here. "Very interesting - BUT STUPID!"

I have ben saying shame on Issa and especially John Boehner all along. From the very start I said that I wanted to believe in them but that the Issa trip to Syria with "Gotta pass it to see what is in in it" Pelosi gave me serious pause.

I have said it looks to me like Issa is slow playing this and opined that this is being done to afford the GOP a campaign issue. I have chided the action to put electioneering ahead of justice.

Issa had better offer a REAL GOOD explanation for having this information and not releasing it, and he had better hope he didn't have them prior to the last hearing where Dodson was present. If he had them prior to that, Issa looks more like a participant in the cover up than an investigator of it.

I wonder if Dave will dispense with the "botched" foolish now?

I now find myself questioning my gut check that the GOP was keeping this at a low boil for campaign purposes. It is starting to look more like Issa and other key players in Congress really did know just exactly what was going on and just stood idle and watched it happen. Maybe even went so far as to go along with it willingly.

Fox and henhouse comes to mind.

I know this much, with this being true, and more to come for sure, it sure looks like Issa just joined the ranks of those who, well, have some serious "'Splainin'" to do.

As I recognized from the very start, The GunWalker Scandal is going to rock Washington to its very core. This "leak" is the start of a political earthquake not witnessed in this country ever before. Np. Doubt. About. It.

And since we KNOW, that the operation couldn't possibly have worked, as stated and executed and therefore could not have been, the actual motivation for the plan, what were the motives?

To implement additional unconstitutional gun control and provide an additional platform for national implementation in the future. As well as any additional measures which could be enacted or implemented. When caught, they immediately implemented the measures that the plan supported.

They aren't worried about the constitution or the courts.

The motive was subversion of the constitution and bill of rights, on many levels. For their purposes and reasons, none of which support the intended purposes of those documents and could only weaken and destroy them.

The word is TREASON.

This president and his supporters are TRAITORS. They know that they are committing TREASON and know, that no one in the major media will say the word.

TREASON. Against all of the citizens of the United States of America.

An agile legal mind, or one not so agile at that, might construct that the VIOLENT enforcement of any said laws, and or provisions was the "...MAKING OF WAR..." against those people.

Such an opinion would be a correct interpretation, an undeniable chronology of actions, causes and effects which are not mitigated by the "oops" defense nor any other "need" because they have followed a plan which can only be explained by the motivation of power, control and centralization. The exact preventive, reason the documents were written.

I do love that there was no "straw buyer" in at least one documented case. I wonder if the Agent took the weapons all the way into Mexico, violating ITAR along with endless US & Mexican laws, and handed them directly to Cartel operatives? Did he get a bundle of cocaine or a bag of US $100's as a tip for his efforts? This is an underling operating on orders/memo/policy that goes all the way to the POTUS via AG Holder. Betcha the Agent resisted/protested a little ("Hey, uh, this isn't what we learned in ATF Agent school about stopping guns...) and then went with the program. Jobs don't grow on trees in 2010.

It is disregard for the rule of law, the spirit of the rule of law, the very idea of the rule of law, on a level that transcends every conceivable idea and principle America as a nation and a people represent. The truly ugly aspect of these crimes by the ruling people, (and lets not beat around the bush about this, all involved belong to a ruling class who have in reality elevated themselves far and away above any law and system to uphold it, but they themselves completely occupy and operate this very system to their convenience and pleasure at all others expense and misery), the ugly truth is, they who are hired into our system of Constitutional government have become rouge operatives of an agenda that's very purpose is to undermine and destroy this here beautiful system of Republican form of government where the sovereign power rest in the hands of we the people. These internal traitors, their tyrants on high passing down marching orders managing this carpet bombing of our rule of law, an act of war on the people from the inside out, have gone over to the side of evil in no doubt.One can argue a million reasons of the why's and who's and what's, but the stark elegant simple truth in all this is the entire system is no so corrupt and waylaid by some very mean sick individuals who are hell bent on bringing this country, My country, and me and you along with it, to our knees.To our knees I say!

It is a conscious concerted act of tyranny, this stripping us of our every means that exist in our great society, the very idea of our way of life, the principles of self determination, the Liberty to provide for ones self and to defend and to protect those prosperity's, to defend ourselves in every way moral and good our founders fought and died for so We today could live in Liberty!

"That's the problem, Davis. This method makes sure that their is no 4473 to trace them against."

Looks like its time to subpena the records of the FFL holder. While there might not be a Form 4473, there will definitely be something in his records removing those specific firearms from his inventory.

Issa has quoted more than once in interviews, he want a special prosecutor. But, he wants all the facts first, so he can be sure the prosecutor is finding and telling the whole story.

He has a hearing in October, and was upset the tapes had been release, "because it contaminates the witness's thoughts." Sound like he was already putting names on the list for the next hearing, and having these tapes, we now know two of the people that were to be called.

His method, as he states over and over, is to get all the evidence, then turn it over to a special prosecutor, meaning, he doesn't want it compromised by the prosecutor. He can call his hand if inaccurate information is presented.

I'm beginning to think that these type of revelations are more akin to wooden stakes thru the heart than coffin nails.While I tend to agree that Issa/Grassley are appearing to be dragging this out (possibly for political gain) - we must bear in mind that they will ONLY get one chance to get it right. With the save barry and his band mentality of both the current CONgress and the media, if they do not get it right the one time they will be allowed to bring this investigation to its proper conclusion, there will be no second chance. Then I am afraid that there will not be a big enough wooden stake in existence to slay this blood sucking (and blood soaked) regime.As I have said before - all CONgress critters need take a stance one way or the other on F&F - for the rule of law and the survival of this nation or for political survival/pandering.

I like watching border wars on NatGeo. I noticed that Discovery has a show called Texas Drug wars that focus on the texas mexico border in the same manner. I would also like to see what happens if border wars does a show on this

Even without completion of a 4473 form, there should still be a notation with the serial numbers in the transfer book of the FFL, otherwise the disposition of those firearms would be unknown and could cause revocation of the FFL for not accounting for all weapons received.

You bet there will be log entries. The FFL had to account for them when he got them, and he has to account for how they are no longer in his inventory.

****GRIN****

Unless they make the FFL destroy his logs, they can't make the pistols just "disappear." There are records from the importer, and any intermediaries that handled the weapons between the importer and FFL.

Yes, the FFL NEEDS to be subpoenaed to produce the logs of all his inventory from 2008 to present and the Mexican government should be asked to allow a search of all seized weapons to find these specific ones.

A whole bunch of folks need to hang for murder, conspiracy to traffic drugs, aiding and abetting murder, TREASON, obstruction of justice, etc.

Don't be so hard on Issa and Grassley. They have to be careful not to tip their hand. It is much easier to get to the bottom line story when the people that you are questioning don't know that you already know most of the answer. This leak will roil the waters, certainly. You can be certain that a lot of people at DOJ, FBI, and BATFE are speding serious time right now creating a cover story. It's not clear to me how that helps Issa and Grassley. It is certainly juicy stuff for us in the peanut gallery, but whether or not this is a timely revelation that moves the investigation towards the truth in the fastest manner possible isn't clear to me.

GO READ the stories from Sept 21, 2011, in which Bill Newell, former SAC of Phoenix is trying to clarify his statements to Congress. Bet he wasn't expecting this story to break. This story confirms he lied to Congress. He was Voth's boss, and Gilletts, and whistleblower Dodson's. He is the man who made sure Dodson was transferred as he wasn't "politically correct" to be trusted to do the bidding of the WH, DOJ, and ATF management.

I apologize in advance for how incoherent this will likely be. I just got off of a long night shift, and haven't taken my meds yet.

I just finished a very good article at WRSA: Barnhardt: There’s No Way In Hell We’re Making It To November, 2012.That just brought into sharp focus (as sharp as it's going to get for this old brain) how close financial collapse really is.

Now this article makes me realize that all of these various gun walker episodes are much more serious than I originally understood. I thought it was to bring about more gun control. Now I believe it is to finalize gun control. The fast approaching financial collapse is driving it.

There won't be time for special prosecutors to bring anyone to justice. It now feels the way it always does just before battle.Deja vu all over again.

Sorry morons but you frighten none. Its really easy to incite a riot while hiding behind a computer! You see this right to bear arms is for all citizens. So if you break one of my windows be careful not trip the wire on my clamor mine and get blown up.

Until these specific weapons are usually retrieved along with traced from the criminal offenses scene or charge inside South america, all you've got is really a succulent tale and absolutely nothing prosecutable.

from down here in west Texas close to the Texmex border - My conspiracy theory - from CL Aery - The invasion of the mid east countries was only a testing ground to see how the countries defended themselves and what would the world do - our current president soetoro, will not listen to his advisers and proceeded on his own to find out about the above - reason??? - at the present time in mexico, there is a standing army supplied with weapons and ammunition waiting for osamabama to give the word to move - how did i determine that???? - first, fast and furious fed the cartels the weapons and ammunition - second, who would in their right mind as a parent let their 13 year old daughter go on spring break to a cartel held city in mexico on their own, secret service never had the fire power or the security forces to protect her, and she came home unharmed and not a hostage - never was there any mention of the cartels and the concern about their violence - to survive in that city with out the complete Marine Corps in attendance, there would have to be some kind of agreement between the white house and the cartels - they don’t roll over just because the president lets his daughter and her friends go there - if i am wrong, i am wrong - but some where there is a standing southern army on the southern borders of America - they await the invasion order

"Progress made under the shadow of the policeman's club is false progress."

I believe that liberty is the only genuinely valuable thing that men have invented, at least in the field of government, in a thousand years. I believe that it is better to be free than to be not free, even when the former is dangerous and the latter safe. I believe that the finest qualities of man can flourish only in free air – that progress made under the shadow of the policeman's club is false progress, and of no permanent value. I believe that any man who takes the liberty of another into his keeping is bound to become a tyrant, and that any man who yields up his liberty, in however slight the measure, is bound to become a slave. -- H.L. Mencken

On the efficacy of passive resistance in the face of the collectivist beast. . .

Had the Japanese got as far as India, Gandhi's theories of "passive resistance" would have floated down the Ganges River with his bayoneted, beheaded carcass. -- Mike Vanderboegh.

In the future . . .

When the histories are written, “National Rifle Association” will be cross-referenced with “Judenrat.” -- Mike Vanderboegh to Sebastian at "Snowflakes in Hell"

"Smash the bloody mirror."

If you find yourself through the looking glass, where the verities of the world you knew and loved no longer apply, there is only one thing to do. Knock the Red Queen on her ass, turn around, and smash the bloody mirror. -- Mike Vanderboegh

From Kurt Hoffman over at Armed and Safe.

"I believe that being despised by the despicable is as good as being admired by the admirable."

From long experience myself, I can only say, "You betcha."

"Only cowards dare cringe."

The fears of man are many. He fears the shadow of death and the closed doors of the future. He is afraid for his friends and for his sons and of the specter of tomorrow. All his life's journey he walks in the lonely corridors of his controlled fears, if he is a man. For only fools will strut, and only cowards dare cringe. -- James Warner Bellah, "Spanish Man's Grave" in Reveille, Curtis Publishing, 1947.

"We fight an enemy that never sleeps."

"As our enemies work bit by bit to deconstruct, we must work bit by bit to REconstruct. Be mindful where we should be. Set goals. We fight an enemy that never sleeps. We must learn to sleep less." -- Mike H. at What McAuliffe Said

"The Fate of Unborn Millions. . ."

"The time is now near at hand which must probably determine, whether Americans are to be, Freemen, or Slaves; whether they are to have any property they can call their own; whether their Houses, and Farms, are to be pillaged and destroyed, and they consigned to a State of Wretchedness from which no human efforts will probably deliver them. The fate of unborn Millions will now depend, under God, on the Courage and Conduct of this army-Our cruel and unrelenting Enemy leaves us no choice but a brave resistance, or the most abject submission; that is all we can expect-We have therefore to resolve to conquer or die." -- George Washington to his troops before the Battle of Long Island.

"We will not go gently . . ."

This is no small thing, to restore a republic after it has fallen into corruption. I have studied history for years and I cannot recall it ever happening. It may be that our task is impossible. Yet, if we do not try then how will we know it can't be done? And if we do not try, it most certainly won't be done. The Founders' Republic, and the larger war for western civilization, will be lost.

But I tell you this: We will not go gently into that bloody collectivist good night. Indeed, we will make with our defiance such a sound as ALL history from that day forward will be forced to note, even if they despise us in the writing of it.

And when we are gone, the scattered, free survivors hiding in the ruins of our once-great republic will sing of our deeds in forbidden songs, tending the flickering flame of individual liberty until it bursts forth again, as it must, generations later. We will live forever, like the Spartans at Thermopylae, in sacred memory.

-- Mike Vanderboegh, The Lessons of Mumbai:Death Cults, the "Socialism of Imbeciles" and Refusing to Submit, 1 December 2008

"A common language of resistance . . ."

"Colonial rebellions throughout the modern world have been acts of shared political imagination. Unless unhappy people develop the capacity to trust other unhappy people, protest remains a local affair easily silenced by traditional authority. Usually, however, a moment arrives when large numbers of men and women realize for the first time that they enjoy the support of strangers, ordinary people much like themselves who happen to live in distant places and whom under normal circumstances they would never meet. It is an intoxicating discovery. A common language of resistance suddenly opens to those who are most vulnerable to painful retribution the possibility of creating a new community. As the conviction of solidarity grows, parochial issues and aspirations merge imperceptibly with a compelling national agenda which only a short time before may have been the dream of only a few. For many Americans colonists this moment occurred late in the spring of 1774." -- T.H. Breen, The Marketplace of Revolution: How Consumer Politics Shaped American Independence, Oxford University Press, 2004, p.1.